The InkQuisition Begins

Happy Birthday, Sis! 

I would like to dedicate this post to my big sister Karma on her 39th birthday ;) She is a creator of beauty in both realms of the personal and the professional, and I admire her very much. xoxo

A lovely collection of natural colour.

Humans have been making ink for ages, and its evolution has been closely tied to that of paper. All manner of material has been used in the making of ink, most early and commonly lampblack or soot being the main ingredient. Flowers, beets and berries (for example) have all been used and are still used today commercially and by DIY crafters and artists; just Google "natural inks" and you will see the results for yourself!

If all goes well I will soon be able to put pen and ink(s) to paper, but I am getting ahead of my self :) These flowers and leafy bits are all from the yard: clematis, poppy, rhododendrons and ornamental plum leaves are just some of the colourful samples I gathered this morning. According to a number of different DIY sites I should let the petals soak in water overnight and by morning should see some colourful results - so that is what I have done!

Dark purple stamens from an orange poppy. Fascinating!

I will be posting the results and a more detailed history of ink in a few days, thanks for checking in!

H.

Paper Making - Part III

Slurry II

The last time I made my paper slurry I was so excited to blend it all up I over blended and fibres went through the screen and clung on with microscopic fingers, refusing to let go and be a nice flat sheet of paper... sheesh!  So I started over. This time I used a least favourite reading from class as the paper source ;) and blended again, this time on the low setting.

Mr. Goodman, I found an alternate theory. Let me explain...

Well, I have had some success! I have managed to dip, and squish, and pull, two sheets of "paper" off the frame and with little or no tearing of the sheet. I did end up roughing the edges all around so the flaws wouldn't be flaws anymore, but I think with some practice I will get better at lifting that first edge.

Paper sheet resting on felt batt.

It looks a lot like paper towel. Sigh. Not the gloriously pristine Chancery style from the video, but rather cheap no-name brand single ply with bits of coloured ink still intact - sort of what paper made from the stuff inside a snow globe might look like. Gah! It is difficult when you have no idea what you are doing!

Detail of paper texture. Screen from frame enhances the paper towel quality :(.

I am now squeezing the bejeezus out of the two sheets between multiple sheets of blotting paper and have them weighted with 25lb box of B-Mix throwing clay (I have given up being scientific!). I am promising myself not to disturb their transformative rest until morning when surely, the ugly ducklings will have become a lovely pair of swans...